Authors Note:

Greetings and salutation as always my dear friends

Welcome to my first tentative steps into the world of Zutara. First and foremost the legal jargon. I do not own or claim to own the people places or things within the world of the Avatar…I'm just barrowing them for a time. In addition, as so many of you now know I do my best to edit but my Dyslexia only allows me to do so much so please, be kind to me, I do what I can.

Chapter 1

And with one smooth flick of her wrist …it was all over.

Slowly almost hesitantly Katar opened her clear blue eyes to stare down at the woman who stood before her. Feet planted and arms extended in a traditional fire bending stance, her fingertips mere inches from Kataras face. It had worked, her ploy had worked and Azula stared back at her now through the crystalline still water a look of bewilderment and rage moving interchangeably over her face. Time seemed to stand still as the two remained motionless incased in a cool tomb of unmoving water.

Exhaling through her nose Katara carefully isolated the water about herself, giving it back its natural fluidity once more, permitting herself to move freely through her incased prison. Brining the chains she held down and around the enraged fire maiden's wrist she moved quickly to wrap them down behind her back, securing them to the grate at their feet. With one final commanding gesture she released the element from its confining stand and the two girls fell back to the ground gasping and panting for air.

Finding her feet Katara wasted no time as she rushed to the entrapped fire princesses, securing the chains and bracing the hold so that she could not escape. The now imprisoned girl growled at her with the ferocity reminiscent of a caged animal, but Katara took little notice. She had more pressing things on her mind.

"Zuko!"

The prince lay where he had fallen, struck down in an unexpected and horrifying moment by his own flesh and blood. Katara felt her heart sink into her stomach at the sight of his unmoving form, the stench of burning flesh deepening the closer she came to his body. Dropping down to her knees she quickly and gingerly rolled the fallen fire bender onto his back. His body tensed against her touch as a small grown escaped his lips, filling her with a sense of urgency and relief. He was alive, in pain, but at least he was alive.

Quickly looking over the older boys' body Katara felt the bile rise sickeningly in her throat. His crimson robe had been burned away at the place that the lightning had first touched his chest. Beneath the cloth his skin had broiled and blackened, the flesh burned and pussed in an array of sickening reds purples yellows and blacks. Bits of fabric clung and melded to the exposed flesh making it hard to tell in places how deep the wound truly ran. Images of the hurried escape Bas Sing Se and the limp pained figure of Aang as he flickered in and out of consciousness played through her mind. Then she had had the spirit water of the oasis to help keep the smaller boy alive, but now…

Pulling water from her own soaking cloths she desperately sought to calm her mind and block out her own sense of panic, concentrating solely on the task at hand. Biting her lip she closed her eyes, running the pure liquid over Zukos exposed chest, feeding into it her own energy. Please the thought echoed through her mind as she fought back an unexpected wave of tears Please…

Slowly she could sense his body tension lesson as his breath slowed from jolting spasms to a steady albeit shallow ones. Weary with the effort of exchanging life energy Katara managed a deep breath of her own. Releasing her hold on the water in her grasp as opened her eyes.

Zuko was looking at her, smoldering gold eyes echoing and amplifying the smile that pulled at his lips. Her breath caught in her throat sending an unexpected shiver down her spine. She smiled back. "Thank you, Katara" the words were hoarse and soft but unmistakable. She was surprised to find the tears were unavoidable as she sought out her own voice. "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you…"

Zuko's smile deepened slightly and to her utter surprise she found it infectious, the kind of thing that set small birds fluttering up through her stomach to beat insistently against the bars of her ribcage. It would be so easy, so easy in that moment to just fall into that smile, so easy to lean forward and simply taste those thin lips and subdue this unusual craving.

Before her mind could even catch up with her own roaming thoughts the spell was broken by the ravines scream of the enraged and bound princess. With a determined sigh Zuko gritted his teeth and attempted to pick himself up. Katara moved quickly to support him as he did so, her face flushing slightly as a small part of her mind berated her for the path her thoughts had taken…

With her help he managed to find his feet, making his way gingerly over to the raging girl chained to the courtyard sewer grate. Breathing heavily Azula stared defiantly at her two captors screaming as a long tong of flame shot from her lips. She writhed and twisted as the tears began to stream from her defiant eyes. Katara could not watch, so pitiful and painful was the sight. It didn't matter how horrific the girl had been, the sight was still agonizing. It was as if there was nothing left of her that could be called human.

Without another word Zuko turned his back on his hysterical sister, Katara following close at his heals. "What now…" Katara murmured under her breath, looking up at him, one hand still pressed to his back to help him keep his balance. Zuko did not respond but rather shrugged off her touch, eyes fixed on some distant point.

The grand palace door they now faced burst open and several guards dressed in fire nation empyreal uniform rushed forth in formation sending a rush of fear and panic through Katara once more. Cursing under her breath she stepped in front of the injured prince, trying desperately to locate a source of water, her own water-skins having been depleted in the battle.

To her surprise Zukos hand found her wrist, pulling her back to his side. "Stay" he hissed under his breath as he took a few steps from her side. She blinked at him in surprise before turning her attention back to the guards who had begun to fan out silently, moving along both sides of the empyreal courtyard. The last of the men, marked as a superior by the gold tassel about his neck and chest approached the two directly his step instinctively in time with those of his men. Katara took a defensive stance despite Zukos warning, not trusting a one of these men as far as she could through them (and based on their bulk alone she was sure it wasn't far).

The commander regarded the water bender with a stale glance before turning his attention back to Zuko. "The Agni Kai has ended" the words coming as less a question then a proclamation.

Zuko nodded his head once.

Without another word the Commander dropped down to one knee before the young prince, the men who now flanked the courtyard following suet. Katara stared slack jawed at the sight not sure what to make of this sudden expression of loyalty. Zuko expression remained unreadable, golden eyes still fixed on some far distant point. "See to the damages to the palace and surrounding city limits are attended, and I would like the princess imprisoned in the southern tower within the hour."

"Sir"

Without another word Zuko pushed on, a remarkably bewildered Katara trailing in his wake. Behind her she heard the commander beginning to bark out orders as the men about her broke formation in order to comply. That had certainly been easer then she had expected. The thought had crossed her mind multiple times while she and Zuko had flown into the nation's capital. Just what would they do when and if Azula finally fell? Surly they would have to take on a miniature army of guards and servants whose loyalty would instinctively lie with there fallen princess.

She risked a quick look back over her shoulder at the guards who were now desperately trying to pull the flames from the building and subdue the blaze. It was so surreal. Here they were before the fire nation palace victorious and unchallenged. It simply couldn't be that easy, could it?

Quickening her pace she caught up with Zuko at the top of the steps falling instep with him once more. "You alright?" she ventured under her breath, risking a quick glance up at his face. His features were as impassive as ever, though the tension is his jaw and neck was unmistakable. She couldn't believe he had the strength and energy to be walking around as if nothing had happened.

"Yha" came the curt response, the words forced through clenched teeth.

"So what do we do now?" she tried again attempting to see past his stone cold façade. "We wait" he answered simply, leading them down the lavish grand hallway trimmed in red and gold. There was not another soul in sight.

"For what?"

The words were out before she realized how imbecilic she sounded. Zuko however seamed ether not to have noticed or to be ignoring her entirely. After a moment he paused leaning heavily against one of the great pillars that lined the rich red hall. Katara stopped as well, concern etched into her features. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I just need to rest…" he mumbled, letting his head lolled back against the stone support. "We both do…We need to be ready incase my Father returns."

"He won't"

The solidity in her words surprised even Katara. Zuko blink slightly, furrowing his brow as he looked at her for the first time since they left the courtyard. "He can't…Aang will stop him."

Zuko shot her a skeptical look.

"Aang will, he has to…" she added, feeling inherently defensive of the boy. After all, he was the avatar. Zuko pursed his lips and allowed his head to role back against the pillar once more

"I hope so…"

The words where soft, but unmistakable.

Katara turned to hide a small smile, though she could not be sure whether his words came as a true sentiment or just a means to avoid yet another argument. In some way it didn't really matter. "I swear Zuko, if I didn't know better I would think Aang was growing on you." She chided playfully, in an attempt to lighten the tone of the conversation.

He did not answer her.

"Zuko?"

Katara turned back to him in time to see him stagger and collapse, emptying the content of his stomach onto the floor. "Zuko!" Dropping to her knees beside him she grabbed at his shoulders trying to hold him upright. Pressed this close to him the stench of blood and broiled flesh became overwhelming and she began to wonder just how extensive his wound was. Katara cursed violently under her breath as she held on to Zukos trembling body, attempting to keep him from collapsing in his own bile. She needed to get him someplace where he could lie down and she could get a good look at exactly what was ailing him. "D-down the right hall…" Zuko bit out apparently having the same thought as she. Nodding she gritted her teeth, draping one of his arms over her own shoulder as she half lead half dragged the boy to his feet and down the remainder of the hall in the direction he had indicated.

It was an agonizing ten minuets before they reached their intended destination. Shouldering the door open Katara glanced about quickly to get her bearings. The chamber was large and lavish, furnished simply in red and black with a single large bed occupying the center of the space. Grand windows lined the right wall, bathing the room in the bright red of the unusual night. At the foot of the bed stood what looked to be a small shrine, a beautiful women with cold sad eyes watching them from the simple picture frame. Resisting the urge to ask about the painting she brought her mind back to the task at hand.

Leading Zuko to the bed she helped him sit before releasing him, moving quickly to undo the band about his waist and remove the tattered remains of his red robe. Without warning his head shot up to stare at her, one hand grabbing her wrist in order to push her away "What in Angi's name are you doing" the boy snapped looking as shocked and bewildered as his current state would allow. "Treating your burns" she shot back surprised and somewhat irritated with his sudden accusatory tone. If she didn't know better she could have sworn his face turned a slight crimson. "There fine, just let me rest women."

Katara felt her brow knit. "Zuko, you're being irrational…"

"And your being a nuisance"

Katara gaped at him for a silent second before she felt her blood begin to boil; of all the times to let modesty rule his judgment… the damn fool!

"Zuko…" the name hissed through her teeth like venom "so help me ether you cooperate and let me treat your wounds or I will forcibly freeze you're wrists to the bed and treat them anyway." For a long moment Zukos face seemed to waver between a look of surprise and absolute rage. However after having a second or two to think it over it seemed that Zuko was inclined to acquiesce though not without offering her another dark look. Untying the sash from his waist he attempted to shrug the rest of the garment off. Katara smiled victoriously as she leaned forward and helped him remove what was left of the red fabric, ignoring his fiery glare.

Unwrapping the fabric from his back with care, Katara managed to get her first good look at his exposed back. She felt her heart drop sickeningly into her stomach. "Dear Gods Zuko…" the words came in a hoarse murmur before she could catch herself. The bolt had not just struck the prince but apparently had done so with enough force to run right through him leaving a trail of burned and blacked flesh of his back and right shoulder. With her eyes she traced the stomach-turning path beginning in-between his shoulder blades across his back to his right forearm. The marks of the lightning seemed to dissipate about his right arm where he must have gained control of the energy and released it back into the air. It had all happened so fast, only now looking over Zukos chard and disfigured back could she truly grasp the extent of Azulas attack.

"That bad…" he murmured, his voice carrying with it the hint of a forced smile. Katara swallowed hard before finding her voice. "Well you could have told me" she chided, tentatively touching a finger to his right shoulder. Zuko inhaled sharply at her touch and she recoiled immediately. "Wait here" she instructed as she began to search the room for water. Faintly she herd him mumble something about where the hell did she think he would run off too. She ignored him.

Through one of the large open windows Katara could see the form of a tree silhouetted against a sky that was slowly loosing its ominous blood red hue. It was not much but it would have to do. Stepping to the window she took a slow breath, her mind searching out the liquid that invariably ran through the outstretched branches. Pulling it to her she was rewarded with a loud, almost deafening crack as the tree protested the loss. She returned triumphantly to Zukos bedside, her entire arm from finger tip too elbow a glow. "Alright, let's see what I can do."

For a long time she worked in silence, fingertips dancing inches from Zukos damaged skin, the glowing liquid soothing and healing wherever she touched, manipulating his chi in order to move his own energy and the water where it was needed most. It was a slow and tedious process requiring a great deal more effort then what she would normally expect. "Better?" she ventured, her own brow still furrowed with the effort. "Yha…" he murmured his face half barrier in the pillow and sheets.

"So what was that all about…" she asked continuing to run her hands inches above his back. The question came as much from her curiosity as her wish to keep the silence at bay. "…you know, with the guard."

The look of confusion that crossed his face was quickly replaced by a hint of a smile, gold eyes closed. "You have never seen an Agni Kai have you?" He murmured, apparently amused with the thought. Katara merely shrugged "I know it's a battle fought between two fire benders…" that seemed obvious enough.

"I guess that is one way of describing it"

Zuko paused for a moment as she passed the water over a particularly deep burn, his face wrinkling up in pain before he pushed forward with his explanation. ""Agni Kai is an ancient tradition based loosely on the social protocol of dragons. When an argument has reached an impasse an Agani Kai can be issued. If accepted both parties are to meet on a field of battle, symbolically release themselves of any earthly vendettas, and face one another in combat. The winner and their word is excepted without question while the looser, well often they are lucky to still have breathe"

Katara lower her hands staring at the back of his head incredulously.

"That's so…barbaric"

She watched as he craned his neck with some difficulty in order to glance quickly back at her.

"Not in the least" Zuko retorted sounding slightly hurt by her words.

"An argument must end in the loss of a life and you're telling me you don't see anything wrong with that?"

Zuko scowled, gingerly rolling back over to look at her. "War is wrong, subjecting people, be it one or one million to such atrocities in the name of a cause that is not theirs, that's wrong. With an Agni Kai there are no armies, no civilian, no casualties. An argument ends honorably with one death, no more. How is that barbaric?"

"No one should have to die for something like that"

"If you feel strongly about something risking everything is only just"

She was silent for a long moment as the gravity of his words managed to sink in. in its own twisted way it made sense, then again Zuko always had a way of making the most ridiculous things sound mundane.

Zuko had closed his eyes once more, exhaustion seeming to have gotten the better of him. Lowering her hands again she watched his chest rise and fall.

"Have you been in one before?"

Zuko nodded his eyes still closed. "Twice before" he murmured, his tone beginning to become lethargic.

"And you have always won?"

He grimaced slightly, opening his eyes to stare blankly at the ceiling. His silence was eerily telling.

"I'm sorry…"

"No need to be; in some twisted way I'm sure it was the best thing that could have happened to me." His eyes had drifted close once more his face a façade of playful childish arrogance. "Think how boring your quest might have been without me trailing you every step of the way…"

"I'm sure" Katara added, unable to keep a chuckle from her voice. It would have certainly been different. In fact when she truly stopped to think about it, she really couldn't really imagine it any other way, so influential had he been in the past year or so, be it for good or ill.

She itched to ask him more, to try and unravel the dark past that he protected with such fervor, but she felt almost guilty, as if she was taking advantage of his weekend state to pick through his usually well guarded thoughts. And, guilt aside, Zuko was in dire need of rest and healing, nether of which he could get if she continued to pester him about things that obviously invoked remarkably pained memories. She waited a few minuets more before picking herself up off the bed, straightening her tunic before moving silently out of the room.

"Katara?" She paused at the door, throwing a glance at him over her shoulder

"Yha?"

"Stay"

For a long moment she just stood there looking nothing short of dumbstruck. Heavily lidded copper eyes stared back at her, his expression almost a childish plea. It was an unsettling image somehow to see Zuko like that; he was always so forceful and independent. It was strange to see him need, to see him truly vulnerable.

To see him as human.

"Please, stay"

She nodded hesitantly unsure what she was expected to say. Silently she returned to his side, sitting herself on the edge of the bed. "Please…" the word was now little more then a murmur on his lips.

Instinctively she hushed him, running her fingers through his unruly hair reassuringly. "I'll stay, you sleep…" The smile returned to his lips as he leaned his head into her touch mumbling something she could not catch. The palm of her hand brushed against his scarred face and she could feel him flinch slightly, involuntarily as he drifted between consciousness and sleep. He had had the same reaction months before while they were both imprisoned in the depth of Ba sing sa. He had tensed almost imperceptibly as her fingers brushed against the scared tissue, his eyes refusing to meet her inquisitive stare.

Biting her lower lip Katara allowed her thumb to brush lightly over his disfigured eyelid to the place where his eyebrow had once been. Not for the first time she wondered what it was from his past that had made such a mark; if it was some battle wound, childhood misfortune, or even a training accident. Her hand and thought hesitated slightly as Zuko shifted in his sleep, grimacing with the effort and pain. Again she hushed him, her heart feeling heavy once more. Before her brain could catch up with her she leaned into him and, brushing his bangs away placed her lips lightly to his forehead.

Resting her forehead to his she blushed and said a silent prayer. She said a prayer for all those she knew to be facing down their destiny that day. A prayer for General Iroh and the members of the White Lotus who now stood at the gates of what was once Ba sing sa. A prayer for her brother, for Suki, and for Toph, who now stood against the daunting air armada of the Fire Nation. A prayer for Aang, who she knew in her heart, would be there in their time of need to stand against the madness Ozai wished to unleash. Finally she said a prayer for the once banished prince who had that day risked everything for his nation, his people, his honor, the world, and her.